Vodacom with its MMTT leads Tanzania market

SINCE the introduction of Mobile Money Transfer Technology (MMTT) in Tanzania way back in 2008, Vodacom Tanzania Limited, has been in the forefront to implement its system of M-Pesa money services in order to reach the people in rural areas with ease. Currently, the company stands with over 7.5 million subscribers with M-Pesa accounts, thus covering the largest market share in the local Tanzania market whereby other mobile phone companies do implement the same technology. Statistics by Bank of Tanzania (regulator of money transfer) shows that, the total number of subscribers of these services in all mobile operating phone companies as at 30th September 2011 stands at 17.7 million. Vodacom which seems to be the leading has a volume of an average of 600,000 transactions per month. These transactions include deposits, withdrawals, transfers, pay bills (Luku, DAWASCO water bills, DSTV, buy airtime and many others). About US$ 3 million is collected as a value which includes all these transactions. According to Vodacom Financial Services Manager, Innocent Ephraim, Vodacom covers these transactions all over the country through its more than 15,000 agents in rural and in urban areas across the country. The firm has an efficient coverage which is available all the time in these areas. The introduction of MMTT in Tanzania started slowly with many subscribers taking off the strides. However, as this concept involves usage of technological related products such as mobile phones to provide services, has been possible due to integration of banking services.

Vodacom Tanzania Managing Director Mr. Rena Bana talks to journalists (not in the picture) during the launching of mobile money through western union, a joint communique with the South African based Western Union branch office. The occasion took place at Kilimanjaro Kempiski Hotel in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in early November 2011.

But slowly, as the concept takes off slowly by slowly, Vodacom Tanzania Ltd has engaged more in awareness by advertising the technology through road show campaigns and consequently managed to employ people to educate their clients on the importance of the money transfer technology. Other sensitization programs the company engages with is through media advocacy programs mostly through mass media such as radio broadcasts. Radio education campaigns by use of community based radio stations, regional radios based in Mbeya, Mwanza and Dodoma cities respectively. The company also used national radios with wider frequency coverage to sensitize the masses in the whole country. These are Radio Free Africa based in Mwanza, Radio One and TBC1 national radio stations based in Dar es Salaam. In addition to that, the company is striving to make sure that, its customers gets their information at the respective registered agents across the country. They have stationed posters that portray the importance of M-Pesa money transfer as a new technology. Since its inception, the company is highly proud to have a acquired more skills and knowledge to drive its operations. It has increased the number of its agents who are now scattered all over the country. With this business that use M-Pesa money transfer, Vodacom has managed to subscribe 7.5 million customers in the country. Apart from that, the company has created employment of over 500 staff since its establishment in 2000. These have been stationed in its various branch offices in the country. It has also created over 30,000 jobs who works on commission basis in their M-Pesa agent offices across the country. “This is a huge achievement indeed when it comes to meeting ordinary Tanzanians” says Innocent Ephraim. However, he added that, Vodacom has revolutionized people how to send money in easier way and in quick transaction to rural people at large. Other achievements is where the CCBRT hospital is using M-Pesa money transfer technology to transport its rural female patients who suffers from Fistula disease to their Dar es Salaam based hospital headquarter. This is really a life changing of doing things. On money fraud cheaters, Vodacom has been dealing with this issue in order to save its customers who had been complaining of insecurity of their money sent to them. However, Vodacom has enlightened their customers to keep secret their pins as this is important to avoid leakage and shouldn't whatsoever share it with other people. In order to strengthen money transfer technology in the country, Vodacom Tanzania Ltd has joined forces with an international Western Union to facilitate cross border money transfer technology so as to enable people outside the country to send money to Vodacom subscribers of M-Pesa account. The key feature is that, the recipient gets money immediately.